Swimrun 101: Mailbag

Welcome to episode 127 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swiun Podcast!

This week we have another installment in our Swimrun 101 series. In this edition, we are opening up the LTBz mailbag and answering the most recurring questions that we get in our emails and DMs. Enjoy!

The LTBz Mailbag

Are wetsuits required at every Swimrun?

Yup. As far as we know, every Swimrun requires a wetsuit. Swimskins won’t cut it. Our best thinking on this is for safety reasons including maintaining your core body temperature and added buoyancy. You can learn more about Swimrun wetsuits on our Gear Talk episode “Wetsuit Suit Out.”

You can also check out the gear guide on our website for all things Swimrun gear.

What paddles should I use?

If you’ve seen any Swimrun race content you’ll notice that almost everyone is using swim paddles as part of their race kit. Using paddles helps compensate for the drag created by swimming with shoes on. They also make you faster. Our recommendation in choosing swim paddles are to make sure that you get the right size for you. Check out our Gear Talk episode all about swim paddles to learn more…from people smarter than us.

Our favorite paddles are made by Frank Paddle. They are carbon fiber paddles that are super stiff and move a ton of water. You can check out our full review about these swim paddles on Gear Talk.

What is the consensus on wearing underwear under your wetsuit?

Like with anything Swimrun, you need to test it in practice to see what will work for you. That being said…Chris has converted a bunch of people to not wear underwear under wetsuits. Ladies typically wear a sports bra on top and/or pair it with a kangaroo top for extra storage. Check out our Gear Talk episode all about Swimrun undergarments.

Should you use a pull buoy? And if so, what size?

YES!!! The Swimrun pull buoy is an essential piece of kit that provides a ton of flotation to keep positioned properly in the water while counteracting the drag created by swimming with shoes on. The general rule of thumb that we follow when we advise people about what pull buoy size to get it to go with the largest that you can handle to get the most buoyancy possible. Check out our review of the pull buoy that we use: The Ark Sport Keel+.

What shoes should I wear for swimrun?

This is one of the most common questions that we get. While Swimrun-specific shoes do exist and are great, we recommend that you start by looking in your current stable of shoes for trail shoes that might work for Swimrun. Any shoe that has good lugs on the bottom and drains water well are good choices. Like with anything Swimrun, testing in practice is key. Check out our deep dive into all things Swimrun shoes on Gear Talk.

Addressing the myth of blistered feet from running in wet shoes.

So the myth usually goes something like this: you get blisters from running with wet socks. This has not been our experience. If you use thin, synthetic fiber socks, you are unlikely to get blisters if your shoes fit properly. Ill-fitting shoes are more likely to cause blisters than Swimrunning. We address Swimrun socks on our Undergarments episode and on our Swimrun Gear Guide.

What to do if you can’t swim without earplugs?

For some folks, swimming without earplugs can lead to headaches, disorientation, and experience less fun in open water. Wearing ear plugs solves these problems but in Swimrun this solution is problematic because of the need to communicate with your partner during the race. We highly recommend Surf Ears which block water out but allow sounds to go in. They also have a lanyard and mini arms to keep the ear plugs in place.

How do I find a partner?

The age old question. We’ve answered this question in a couple of previous Swimrun 101 shows all the way back on Episode 4 and again on Episode 111. If you don’t want to listen to those shows, our recommendations for finding a partner are basically to look to folks in your training group or pool and see if anyone is up for the adventure and make sure that whomever you partner with has similar goals.

Where can someone find/borrow used Swimrun gear?

We love getting this question because we want everyone to be able to find Swimrun gear so that they can get out there and try the sport. In that spirit, we created the Swimrun Swap Meet on FB so folks could sell/buy/trade Swimrun gear.

That’s it for this week’s show. If you are enjoying the Löw Tide Böyz, be sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast player and leave us a five-star review. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast, and on YouTube. You can also follow our meme page on Instagram. Email us at lowtideboyz@gmail.com with any feedback and/or suggestions. Finally, you can support our efforts on Patreon…if you feel so inclined.

Thanks for listening and see you out there!

- Chip and Chris